Defensive Line Snaps Per Week

this is a discussion within the Saints Community Forum; Maybe some of you have wondered where J. Jenkins went the past few weeks. Did some research and found this stuff on &quot;Football Outsiders&quot; concerning our rookie DT. It does seem that they're keeping the kid fresh for the November/December ...

Maybe some of you have wondered where J. Jenkins went the past few weeks. Did some research and found this stuff on "Football Outsiders" concerning our rookie DT. It does seem that they're keeping the kid fresh for the November/December push, particularly after Week 2-5 without Bunkley. Just good business for the big rookie, but it doesn't mean I have to like it.

I'd like him in the 30-35 snap range, especially after the past 3 games plus bye week. But I'm sure the coaching staff and training staff know what the crap they're doing in the overall big picture for him better than me. And my apologies for single coverage on one dude, but the Big Man is a Perk-MGCCC alum, so I'm extremely partial and proud.

Snap Numbers are more indicative of injuries, not performance. If we had a healthy early no way JJ would be getting 40 snaps

I had noticed what seemed to me a defensive drop off in enthusiasm and execution starting with @ NE through @ NYJ, and I know the Bunkley injury spiked the number of snaps for Jenkins beforehand. I was just pleased to see that the coaching staff was "resting" him for the past 4 weeks to keep him fresh and healthy for the November/December time frame, although my own preference would be JJ getting more snaps than BB. I know JJ's not the "stop all/be all" NT, but having a healthy, freshER rotation in the middle down the stretch will pay off big down the stretch against primarily running teams (SF, SEA, CAR X 2).

Jenkins is more of a big play maker than Bunkley, but Bunkley is more consistent and steadier as posted earlier by Oak (thanks a bunch for that, dude)...indicative of the production between an 8 year vet and a talented rookie. I'm just excited for the potential of this D-line, and pleased with the staff's handling of JJ's snaps since that brutal stretch for him between Weeks 2-5.